Decision On Moving 4 Ships From N.j. To Norfolk May Take Months

NORFOLK — It could be months before the Navy decides whether to move four ships here from New Jersey, according to a Norfolk Naval Base spokesman.

Early last month, Navy officials said they were considering moving four combat support ships from Naval Weapons Station Earle to Norfolk because sailors there were having a hard time making ends meet in the pricey part of New Jersey that is home to the weapons station.

Moving the USS Seattle, USS Detroit, USS Supply and USS Arctic here would add about 2,000 sailors and $143 million a year to the Hampton Roads economy, said a local economist.

Congressmen and senators from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, concerned about the economic loss the move would create, have asked for studies to be done.

Recently, Adm. Donald L. Pilling, vice chief of naval operations, said the ships would not be moved from Earle for at least several months.

A chain of reviews and recommendations must take place before a decision.

The Atlantic Fleet has to make a recommendation to the chief of naval operations, who then has to make a recommendation to Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, who must make a final decision.

"The Atlantic Fleet will forward a decision paper to the CNO's office, but that has not been done yet, and I don't know when that is going to happen," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark McDonald, a fleet spokesman.

The four fast supply ships routinely accompany carrier groups on operations and supply them with fuel and ammunition. They are the only Navy ships of their kind in the Atlantic, and moving them closer to the fleet that they service could hasten a deployment.

Richard William Rogers can be reached at 247-4629 or by e-mail at rrogers@dailypress.com